2008-09 SEASON Finished second among Colorado defensemen in scoring with 21 points (4g/17a) in 70 games…Led all Avalanche backliners in hits (107) and was third in blocked shots (143)…Missed the final eight games of the season due to a knee injury suffered on March 25 vs. Anaheim…Did not dress on Dec. 16 at Philadelphia…Left after the first period on Dec. 21 at Florida (torso)…Missed one game, Dec. 23 vs. Phoenix…Appeared in his 800th NHL game on Jan. 15 at St. Louis…Surpassed 1,000 career penalty minutes on March 12 vs. Minnesota…Missed two games, March 17-19, due to a foot injury…Following the season, Salei played for Belarus at the 2009 IIHF World Championship in Switzerland…Recorded five points (2g/3a) in six games, finishing as Belarus’ top scoring defenseman.

CAREER
2007-08: Was acquired by Colorado at the trade deadline and recorded seven points (3g/4a) in 17 games with the Avalanche…Appeared in a combined 82 games between Colorado and Florida, tallying 30 points (6g/24a)…Matched career highs in games played and goals, while his assist and point totals were the second highest of his career…Left in the first period on March 9 at Dallas (eye) and missed one game…Played in all 65 games for the Panthers prior to the trade, notching 23 points (3g/20a)…Was leading Florida defensemen in assists and ranked second in points at the time of his departure. PLAYOFFS: Tied for first among Colorado defensemen with five points (1g/4a) during the playoffs…Led the Avs in hits (25) and blocked shots (24)…Assisted on Joe Sakic’s overtime winner in Game One (CQF) at Minnesota on April 9…Had a goal and one assist in Game Four (CQF) vs. Minnesota on April 15, his second career multi-point game in the playoffs. 2006-07: Set career-highs in goals (6), assists (26) and points (32) while appearing in all 82 games for the Florida Panthers…Had a career-best six-game point streak from Nov. 2-16…Tallied a career-high three points (1g/2a) on Dec. 9 at NY Islanders. 2005-06: Posted a career-high +17 plus/minus rating in 78 games for Anaheim…Also set a personal best with 114 penalty minutes…Collected his 100th NHL point on Jan. 21 vs. Florida…Missed four games, Jan. 28-Feb. 4, after being struck in the face with a puck. PLAYOFFS: Scored three playoff goals after tallying just one during he regular season…Set a playoff career high with two points (1g/1a) in Game 7 at Calgary (WCQF) on May 3…Scored the game-winner against Edmonton in Game Four (WCF) on May 25. 2003-04: Ranked first on the Ducks in ice time (23:41) and second in PIM (110)…Played in his 500th NHL game Feb. 29 vs. Los Angeles. 2002-03: Became the first defenseman in club history to reach 400 career games on Dec. 28 at Vancouver…Missed seven games (Dec. 4-19) and also 11 contests (March 7-30) due to a lower back strain. PLAYOFFS: Skated in all 21 playoff games as the Ducks advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals…Logged 53:55 of ice time and had an assist in Anaheim’s five-overtime victory over Dallas in Game One (CSF) on April 24…Tallied first career playoff goal in Game Six (CSF) against Dallas on May 5…Scored the winning goal in overtime in Game Three of the Stanley Cup Finals against New Jersey (May 31). 2001-02: Became Anaheim’s all-time leader in games played by a defenseman (348) on Jan. 30 vs. Columbus…Skated in 300th NHL game Oct. 21 vs. Vancouver. 2000-01: Tied for second on the club in hits (146) and was third in shifts-per-game (27.0)…Missed 23 games, Jan. 21 to March 14, with a concussion…Also missed six games with a sore foot, Oct. 29-Nov. 8. 1999-00: Skated in his 200th NHL game Jan. 5 vs. Florida… Missed 10 games due to suspension, Oct. 5-27. 1998-99: Played in his 100th NHL contest Nov. 4 vs. St. Louis. PLAYOFFS: Made his NHL playoff debut in Game One (WCQF) at Detroit on April 21. 1997-98: Led all Ducks defensemen with a +7 rating…Scored first NHL goal Nov. 7 at Calgary. 1996-97: Made his NHL debut at Montreal on Oct. 7…Earned his first NHL assist/point Nov. 11 vs. Dallas.

INTERNATIONAL
Played for Belarus at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, which included an upset win over Sweden in the medal round…Also represented Belarus in the 1998 Olympics in Nagano, Japan, where he became the first NHL player to ever participate in the Olympic Games…He was also the first NHL player to score a goal in the Olympics…Led all players in shots at the 1998 Olympics with 45…Competed for Belarus at the 1998, 2000, 2001, 2008 and 2009 IIHF World Championships.

PERSONAL
Ruslan and his wife, Bethann, have two children, Alexis (4) and Aleksandro (2).